The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-02-04
"ENNUI
~;assell's Magazine.
CHAPTER I.

Ia
N urgent, premptory invitation!
The four sisters gathered round the
open window in their pretty drawing
.oom, and looked at each other in
tismay. Fond as they were of good
I'D Aunt Judy, it was an invitation
which no one was anxious to accept
ust then. Next week Drowsytown
would be astir with the festivities of
he annual tennis tournament, closely
olIowed by a grand fete and garden
party, in celebration OF distinguished
aud unusual birthday. For Sir Ste
phen Langham's son and heir did not
:ome OF age every year.
Nevertheless, this was an invitation
which must not be disregarded.
How many has Aunt Judy invit-
sd?" said Francesca, in a tone Of evi.
lent resentment.
"Only one" answered Barbara,
With a pleasant smile,
ooh, then Geraldine had better 60,
rs she is the youngest"
Pretty Geraldine grew very red, and
ooked dlstressed-a circumstance
Whish gave rise to a good deal of
sood-natured banter among the girls,
antil Gabrielle, who had been reading
the letter over Barbara's shoulder,
broke in with
ut is too bad of you to tease so,
francesca. You need not bother
about it; I'll go. l don't mind"
At Gabrielle's decided tone Barbara
looked up quickly.
Nonsense, Gay! / shall go, of
course,
Barbara was accustomed to be an
oracle to her sisters. Ever since they
had been children she had taken the
dear mothers place, and, though
Fraulein, their old governess, was
now house keeper and chaperone to
their elder years, it was Barbara to
whom the younger sisters looked, and
who must decide all questions and
disputes. But on this subject Gabri-
ellie was determined to have her own
way. In spite Of the entreaties and
protestations of her sisters, she re-
NAMED firm, bringing forward SO many
good reasons why she should GO to
"Ennui House that her sisters be-
gan to believe that she was really
anxious to assist Aunt Judy's pet
curate, Mr.. Slack, in looking after
the wants OF his parish.
What about the duet, Geraldine?"
she added, as the sound Of footsteps
in the hall sent that blushing little
damsel flying to the mirror to arrange
her hair. Here comes Mr.. Tom
Forrest to practice it."
"And Cousin Agustus,' said Fran
oesca, sinking into a chair. 'Don't
you hear him numbering up the
stairs?"
II am afraid Mr.. Forrest will
know that Duet remarked barbara.
well we must talk over Aunt Judy's
letter with Fraulein by and by"
For the entrance of Cousin Augustus
at that moment, followed, by a tall,
good-looking young man, put an end
the conversation.
CHAPTER II.
A low, large, irregular, picturesque
house, standing in the midst OF an
o~id-fashioned rambling garden. The
small diamond.paned windows smiled
out through clusters of pink and
white roses; honeysuckle and sweet
peas clambered up the porch. Over
roof the high, faint, faraway
tree tops stood sleeping against
the quiet blue sky; there was not
q breath of wind to wake them, not a
breath to stir the cool shadows on the
cleaning lawn. The white cprtains
hung In unruff1ed starchness in the
AIRY drawing-room, whose windows,
opening out on the lawn, disclosed the
spacious dim interior into which the
long shadows stretched. Wide, pleas
ant, cool, weli-ordered. smothered to
the very roof in flowers, fragrant with
All the delicious odors OF June. Leafy
Hall looked as if it scarcely deserved
the somewhat ungracious sobriquet OF
"Ennui House" Even the absolute
stiffness which pervaded the place
could scarcely Warrants harsh a title.
II had been a bright June morning.
Nothing but the mcnotonous hum OF
bees broke the silence of the drowsy ]
afternoon hours, for the mistress OF
the house was taking a nap under the
sreat wide-spreading chestnut tree on
lawn. An imposing, portly
parsonage was Aunt Judy, with brown
waving on either side OF her face,
2 round, pleasant, rosy countenance.
: suggestion OF eyebrows, and adoubly
toubla-chin. She was dressed In an
airy muslin gown, with alarge fiowery
or q white ground, which, with